The first Airbus ACJ320neo successfully completed a two-hour, 40-minute first flight from Hamburg, Germany, on Friday, beginning what is anticipated to be a short flight-test program. Derived from the certified A320neo airliner, the bizliner version differs with the inclusion of up to four extra center fuel tanks in the cargo hold for more range, as well as greater cabin pressure for better passenger comfort and built-in airstairs.
These features are being tested before delivery of the aircraft to Acropolis Aviation by year-end. The ACJ320neo will then enter outfitting at AMAC in Basel, Switzerland, where an Alberto Pinto-designed cabin will be installed and the exterior repainted in the customer’s colors.
Airbus ACJ320neo family aircraft feature new-generation engines and Sharklets, reducing fuel burns by about 15 percent and increasing range. As a result, the ACJ320neo with all four center fuel tanks added can fly 25 passengers 6,000 nm/11,100 km, enabling routes such as London to Beijing or Cape Town and Moscow to Los Angeles.
“The ACJ320neo first flight heralds a new Airbus corporate jet era, delivering a range improvement that enables nonstop travel between even more cities, in what is widely recognized as the best cabin of any business jet,” said ACJ president Benoit Defforge. “The ACJ320neo Family’s improved fuel-efficiency also means that it compares even more favorably in operating costs with traditional business jets,” he added.
There are currently nine firm orders for the ACJ320neo family—three ACJ319neos and six ACJ320neos—according to Airbus.
